An Ode To Fire
By Red Morse Flickering mess of light,Swaying sharp with poise,Like a ballerina pirouetting through thorns. You bite the hands of thoseWho take hold of you;With bitter passion.I wish to dance … Continue Reading An Ode To Fire
Mirrorwork Blues
By Nandita Modhubonti A blind woman fly fishes with her cane soft white jumper, fraying gray ends her piercing blue eyes are distracting, as I observe the early inhabitants of … Continue Reading Mirrorwork Blues
The Last Show at the Colonial
By Shawn Keller It is the recollection of a fire. It is the creosote memory of a stair.I am walking down Water Street in 1985 with my mother, offto pay … Continue Reading The Last Show at the Colonial
“Marci”
By Charles R. Vermilyea Jr. Woody is concerned. This dedicated driver at an auto auction near Boston sees a Caddy parked in the Chrysler pile. Horrors! “Look at that shit, … Continue Reading “Marci”
Waiting for Sunday
By Adela Brito I wonder if my six-year-old son realizes something is different about today, the first of many different days. His father left extra early this morning; it was still dark outside. And, as always, he went … Continue Reading Waiting for Sunday
Postcards from Charlottesville
By Stephen Sossaman A ghazal Some postcards lie with I wish you were here. This states sincerely my wish you were here. My sudden sadness in Jefferson Park? Twilight birdsong … Continue Reading Postcards from Charlottesville
I WANT TO DIE
By John Tustin The grass will not grow where we have stepped together. The flowers will not flower in the garden And the violin sits atilt in the corner of … Continue Reading I WANT TO DIE
THE BURGLAR
By Clive Aaron Gill Randy scratched his bristly cheek. Got to get me some nose candy. Need money. Standing alone in the kitchen he shared with three roommates in Poway, California, he ate pungent tuna out of a can. A … Continue Reading THE BURGLAR
The Letter
By Melissa Purswell There’s a letter in the console of my car buried beneath carbon copied evidence of oil changes, brake pads, a new muffler. I’ll see it every so … Continue Reading The Letter
Rust Image
By Diane Webster The caterpillar of rust predicts a harsher winter than average as it crawls in tiny steps, leaves behind fuzzy outline of path across metal like a pink … Continue Reading Rust Image
Evening Stroll
By Richard Dinges Jr. To live without guilt is to swim through water and not get wet. Shadows along pond’s shore form spoken words early in evening. Sun’s glare dims … Continue Reading Evening Stroll
Shoebox
By Frank Modica I am grapevines and olive trees heavy-laden with broken promises, working for another man’s harvest in the hot Sicilian sun, I am basil leaves torn in ragged … Continue Reading Shoebox
The Anti-Midas Touch
By William Musgrove I couldn’t afford a car, so I walked everywhere. The bottoms of my shoes looked likesanded wood. Each day, I visited the statue in the park. The plaque … Continue Reading The Anti-Midas Touch
The Decision
I was right to be fearful of after-school detention. But clearly not enough, for that is where I found myself on one dark and stormy Tuesday afternoon. “This is about … Continue Reading The Decision
Over the Brook
Mother and Daughter often liked to go for walks around their woodland home between the hours of four and five pm. In the summertime the trees stood at the perfect … Continue Reading Over the Brook
A Candle
Louisa was a bright young girl. She could read and write from a very early age, baffling her parents, who had never particularly tried to kindle such a studious attitude … Continue Reading A Candle